Date Published: 04/20/10

Education, key to poverty eradication says Mimiko ….lauds Olukoya, MFM's G.O for donating primary school building

The Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko has reiterated the determination of his administration to revamp the State’s educational sector with the aim of breaking the vicious cycle of poverty ravaging the people.

He stated this yesterday while commissioning some blocks of classrooms built by the General Overseer of Mountain of Fire and Miracles (MFM) Pastor Dr. Daniel Olukoya for St. John Primary School, Oke- Igan in Akure.

Represented by the State commissioner for Education Mrs. Adenike Fatogun, the Governor commended the donor for complementing the efforts of his administration to revive the vital sector which he said is one of his priorities.

While emphasising the importance of elementary education, which he described as the bedrock of education, Mimiko assured that no effort would be spared to improve primary education through the building of more of the Caring Heart Mega Primary Schools across the state. Going by the current global advancement in technology, Mimiko said that government alone could no longer fund education and called on spirited individuals and corporate bodies to complement government’s efforts in this wise in order to ensure that quality education get to more people.

He said “ By the time our first phase of the Mega Primary Schools are completed, most of our pupils will prefer them to even the best Private schools in the state, the Governor assured.

While advising Parents to prioritise the education of their children, the Governor said that education remains the only legacy they can leave behind.

Earlier in his address, the donor, Pastor Daniel Olukoya said that the gesture was as a result of his love for education.

He told the gathering that between 1964 and 1969 he was a pupil at the school before he proceeded to Methodist High School in Lagos adding that for one to really appreciate God, he need to remember his beginning.

The project, he said, started in October last year with the demolition of existing old structures adding that apart from the 15 classrooms, 5 laboratory buildings, a big event hall and administrative block were also provided for the school at a cost he declined to mention. Olukoya was of the opinion that the gesture would encourage the pupils and the teachers to embrace hard work.

Also speaking, the President of Christ Apostolic Church,(CAC) Pastor E.H.L Olusheye landed the union of the donor who he referred to as a God- sent philanthropist.

The cleric urged the state government to provide a solar powered borehole and boost electricity supply to the school for the proper functioning of the equipment supplied by the donor.